September: Help us Thy Name to Sing

At Okutama

Joy Bible Camp
This last summer I co-directed Joy Bible Camp with my dad and we had about 160 kids involved in the 3 camps that were hosted in June. Ruth I., the CAJ librarian, spoke for our first and youngest camp. My brother Caleb spoke for Camps 2 and 3. It was a tremendous time of spiritual growth for the kids and staff alike and the Lord worked mightily.

                 Nojiri            

With Grandpa at Togakusfhi

Since 2008 I have been certified as an American Red Cross Lifeguard Instructor. This year was my 6th year of training guards and it is always a privilege and a learning experience. I was also able to help teach two weeks of Red Cross Learn-to-Swim program for Level 5 students. I and my co-instructors had about 18 students total. My highlight was helping some of the kids learn to dive for the first time.


Fuji Climb
Five friends and I climbed the Gotemba Trail of Mt. Fuji starting from the 5th station. We began at 10pm on a Friday evening and summited by 6am where the view was amazing! We made our descent in about 4 hours and arrived back at the 5th station by about 10:30am on Saturday morning. This was now my 5th time to climb Fuji but every time I've summited the 3776 meter mountain it is always a great thrill!

New School Year
The new school year has begun and my co-teacher Kimberly and I will be teaching 24 third grade students. Half are boys and half are girls and the year is off to a great start.

Baptism
I praise from this summer was that my 4 year old nephew Micah was baptized at Lake Nojiri!

Prayer Requests

• Teaching: Please pray for wisdom as I start the new year

• Coaching: This school year I am coaching 3 sports seasons: MS Boys Soccer, HS Field Hockey, MS Girls Basketball. Please pray for time management

• Youth Group: We have 2-5 students coming regularly to the KCC Youth Group which is called the 中高生会. This year I will have the help of Karen Johnson (SEND missionary) and Heidi Barkman (MS teacher at CAJ

• Marathon Training: My Yokohama marathon is scheduled for October 29 and Lord willing I hope to gain entrance into the Tokyo marathon but with 310,000 applicants and only 35,000 selected I am still waiting to hear back on September 25th. 

• BSF: Every Monday I will be traveling to Meiji-Jingumae to attend the men's Bible Study Fellowship  (BSF) hosted at Tokyo Union Church (TUC). The church is located right between Louis Vuitton and Burberry and it sets on prime real estate property downtown but about 60-70 men gathered last Monday night to kick-off a 30-week study of Romans. 

• Language Study: Every Tuesday night I visit the Higashi Kurume City Office to have a 1.5 hour Japanese class. My teacher is Tsuneizumi-san and every time is a great chance to have Japanese conversation. Please pray for Tsuneizumi to put his trust in Jesus.

• Shanghai Trip: In order to maintain my American Red Cross Lifeguard Instructor certification I  will be traveling to Shanghai American School (SAS) to take a 1-day review course. This will certify me for 2 more years. I hope to find future training in either Guam or Japan which will be easier for me logistically.

• Israel Trip: From December 30 to January 6 my brother Caleb and I will be traveling around Israel with a group called Summit Leaders

• Preaching: Right now I am scheduled to preach at KCC on October 15th. Please pray that I will find time to prepare for this message and that I would learn from the Lord what He would want me to share. 

Digging out a root in the garden at Nojiri

Birthday meal at Asunaro Fish Farm, Nagano

Picnic dinner with cousins and friends